Am I being a nursery snob??

[HarlotLipstick]

My DS is nearly 2.5 and we have started to look around the local nurseries (6 of them) with a view to him starting once he turns three. As an only child I obviously want him to have the opportunity to develop social skills etc. But.... The nurseries are all a bit mediocre. All have the expected resources, like mud kitchens, sand, slides, indoor tables, small world play etc, but none of them are presented or tidied in a way to show they are looked after and look tired. Staffing ratios are fine, but when looking round actual engagement with children has been very limited, at one place a woman just sat for the whole 3/4 hour we were there just sat on a bench drinking her tea. None seem particularly bothered about academic stuff either (I was worried about too much sitting and worksheets but there's nothing). The space is the only thing that varies some have more outdoor space than others some more indoor but is that really all I should expect???

Definitely look at all types of setting. Nurseries, childminders, school nurseries, private school nurseries, nannies, anything within your price bracket. You will know when. You find the right one.

I am.heavily involved in Early Years Education as part of my job .

All nurseries, pre schools, play.groups follow the same early years curriculum. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) . This is a play based curriculum .

Young children learn best through play. There should never be work sheets in a nursery.

It is important when you.go to visit a nursery that you see and get a feel for a calm.environment. There should not be bright colour everywhere these days! You need to see neutral colours and wooden furniture as this has a calming Impact on children.

More importantly though.the staff should be engaged and interacting with the children. If the staff are not engaging in conversation or activities with the children then do.not go there!

Ask if The PreSchool room is led by a qualified Early Years Teacher holding EYTS /EYPS or QTS research suggests that the outcomes for children are better if a teacher is leading EYFS.

If you see work sheets or twenty of exactly the same work on.the walls of the nursery then u know it has been completed by an adult.and you should avoid @ run.

I was asked today by a parent of a 2 year old where the desks were so the children could sit and do lessons
I think I managed to explain the theory of learning through play
It is sad that so many parents do not value learning through play
Most of my children leaving my nursery for school are on track with their development and I know they will do well at school
The ones that are not on track for all areas are the children with English with additional language and those children who receive speech and language support
What's even more sad is that there are nurseries that don't seem to value learning through play and force worksheets and inappropriate activities like phase 2 phonics on children

The staff ought to be engaging with the kids - those on a tea break should be just that, on a break, in a separate (peacefully quiet) staff area. Its isn't snobby to expect that and good nursery staff do this wonderfully well (and are adored by the kids in return).

Shabby toys can be overcome but if the staff are not motivated, skilled and supported to engage with the kids that will manifest itself in the children's behaviour and contentment.

And its worth remembering no particular type of childcare is a guarantee of engagement - a childminder or nanny is no more or less likely to be caring than nursery staff (but is less likely to be observed).

If you are in the midlands look for a Shooting Stars (Stourbridge, Gloucester, Hinckley, Bromsgrove and some more) the most wonderful caring environment but has a great academic side as well.